Advisory Design Panel

About the Advisory Design Panel

Maple Ridge Advisory Design Panel (the ADP) is established under the Maple Ridge Advisory Design Panel Bylaw No. 6326-2005 (the ADP Bylaw). The ADP provides independent advice on the form, character, massing, streetscape, design and on-site landscaping of development proposals in the community to Council. The ADP plays an important role in shaping the built environment of Maple Ridge.

The ADP meets to review projects in Major Occupancy Categories that require Development Permit applications to be approved by Council. Submissions to the ADP are made by project Architects through the application’s File Manager in the Planning Department.

ADP members provide their professional opinion on proposed designs to the City of Maple Ridge. Members of the public who wish to provide feedback on a proposed design can submit their comments to the Committee Clerk. Comments will be provided to ADP members to review along with the application package. Members of the public are also encouraged to attend Public Hearings where applicable.

Agendas & Minutes

Members

The Panel includes three architects, nominated by the Architectural Institute of British Columbia (AIBC), and two landscape architects nominated by the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects (BCSLA) for two-year terms. Additionally a non-voting staff member provides liaison and professional advice.

The currently appointed members are:

Craig Mitchell, Architect

Steven Bartok, Architect

Shida Neshat-Behzadi, Architect

Shan Tennyson, Landscape Architect

Stephen Heller, Landscape Architect

Mandate

The ADP Bylaw has established the following mandate for the Panel:

(a)

to review and to make recommendations to Council on all new developments (see note 1) and significant additions (see note 2) to multi-family, commercial, industrial or institutional projects prior to consideration of a development permit by Council (see note 3);

(b)

to encourage quality design in the community through education, award programs for design and landscaping, and the review of projects;

(c)

to recommend to Council actions to improve the appearance of Maple Ridge;

(d)

to advise Council on any matter referred to it by Council; and

(e)

to make recommendations to Council on the formulation of design policy and criteria

Notes:

Also renovations to building exteriors that require a development permit.

Occasionally, the Panel may be asked to comment on Institutional and Heritage Conservation projects.

Project Subject to Review

Submissions required to be submitted to the Advisory Design Panel (the ADP) for review are multi-residential, commercial and industrial projects subject to obtaining a development permit. A Development Permit Application initiates the ADP review process. Projects that do not require a Development Permit, such as Institutional and heritage conservation proposals, may also be brought before the ADP for comment.

Submission Preparation

Prior to accepting a submission to the ADP, the Planning Department and other internal departments will review and comment on the Development Permit application, and the File Manager may require revised plans and additional information to be submitted. Your ADP submission is to address any comments or concerns from your File Manager about your Development Permit application, including those from other Departments such as Building, Engineering and Fire.

It is recommended that applicants consult with the File Manager to determine the necessary materials for submission and review by the ADP. There is certain basic information required for each project, with supplemental plans and information depending on the nature and complexity of a project.

The design criteria contained are examples of what would reasonably be considered for review by the applicant and members of the ADP. In the description provided by AIBC, the scope and nature of the criteria used may vary with the size or special circumstances of a project.

Submission Timing

Printed and electronic (or digital) submission packages to the ADP, as described below, are to be provided to the File Manager no later than the deadline stated in the schedule in the Meeting Schedule (see Submission Form). The Architect must ensure it is a complete submission and includes all information and plans necessary for the ADP to consider the design proposal. The Planning ADP Staff liaison will not forward incomplete packages from File Managers to the ADP or the ADP may return incomplete submissions and require a full re-submission to another meeting.

Printed Submission Package:

A complete submission package is to include seven (7) collated sets of printed documentation and plans. These sets are to be delivered to the File Manager no later than the deadline stated in the meeting schedule. The submission is forwarded to the ADP members in advance of the scheduled meeting date.
Each package is to be clipped, not stapled or bound together, and 3-hole punched. Documents, checklists, etc. are to be 8 ½” by 11” format and architectural plans, landscaping plans, rendering and other graphic information is to be in colour and in 11” by 17” format.

Your submission package is to include the following materials in the order described below:

ADP Form: An ADP Submission Request Form is to be completed and signed by the Architect;

Covering Letter: A covering letter (or memo) describing the project, the rationale for the proposed design and key features of the proposal. The stormwater management strategy is to be described for every project, and any other applicable matters such as Green Building Techniques, Public Art, and principles of sustainability incorporated into the overall project;

Bylaw Compliance Review: A Development Data Sheet is to be completed and signed by the applicant. It is necessary to confirm the project complies with the Zoning Bylaw, the Parking and Loading Bylaw and any other applicable City bylaw, or identify any necessary variances. Constraints affecting the project such as trees, geotechnical, natural features, heritage buildings, rights-of-way, etc. are to be noted as well.

Compliance Checklist: A completed and signed Development Permit Area Checklist is to be included. Use the Checklist that applies to the type of development (e.g. Multiple Residential, Commercial etc.) or by community neighbourhood in which it is proposed (e.g. Town Centre Precincts). This is to be submitted to demonstrate the project's compliance with the applicable Development Permit guidelines in the Official Community Plan. Short descriptions for each applicable guideline rather than the note "refer to plans" is preferred by the ADP.

Supporting Materials: The submission to ADP is to include materials initially required as part of the Development Permit application (see Schedule D of the "Maple Ridge Development Procedures Bylaw No. 5879-1999), as may have been modified as a result of input from the File Manager and City Departments such as Building, Engineering and Fire.

Stormwater / Rainwater Management Strategy: A brief description and rationale of how each of the 3 tiers associated with on-site stormwater management requirements will be achieved. This must be accompanied by SMP and landscaping plans that have been coordinated between the Landscape Architect, Environmental Professionals, the Arborist, and the Civil Engineer of record. Emphasis for ADP purposes should be placed on Tier A requirements and how the proponents intend to achieve pre-development runoff rates and water quality requirements through on site bio-engineering and landscape designs. This must include consideration for oil/water separators, as well as infiltration, bio-filtration, and exfiltration treatments on site. Standard Tier A solutions include consideration for topsoil amendments, bio-swales & raingardens, use of street tree bio-filtration units, tree retention or replacement schemes, and/or other types of landscape treatments. Topsoil amendments and bio-filtration methods are permitted in the Escarpment Area, provided runoff from the site is ultimately captured and deposited into storm sewers. Drainage patterns, and landscape/planting design details should be included on the plans where possible. Detailed Tier calculations are not necessary.

Tree Retention and Replacement Strategy: Provide a brief description and plan of which permit sized trees or significant sized trees are being retained on site and/or where replacement trees are being proposed on site where tree canopy cover targets have not been achieved. Ensure adequate space is provided on sites to protect critical root zones for trees on neighboring properties and for proposed permit/significant trees being retained. Integration of this information with stormwater management plans and landscape plans is required.

Architectural and Landscaping Plans: The plans to be submitted are either noted in a checklist provided by the File Manager or in direct consultation with the File Manager prior to making your submission.

Electronic Submission Forms

In addition to the printed submission packages, a pdf copy on a memory stick or CD is to be included. For larger submissions, it may be necessary to have materials uploaded to an ftp site that is accessible to your File Manager, ADP Staff Liaison and ADP members. Consult with the File Manager.

ADP Presentation

The Architect, Landscaping Architect and other professionals of record indicated in the ADP Submission Form must attend and make a presentation to the ADP. Their combined presentation is for a maximum of 10 minutes. Your presentation materials may be mounted on foam-boards, a PowerPoint or similar electronic presentation, or a combination thereof. Sample material boards and scale models (if applicable) are to be brought to the meeting. Contact the File Manager to insure your presentation will be compatible with the projection system in the Blaney Room.

ADP Decisions

Following your presentation, the members of the ADP will discuss your proposal and if applicable, encapsulate recommended suggestions and changes to your project in a motion. The ADP recommendations will be emailed to applicants shortly after the meeting by the File Manager. The motions generally are:

Design proposals are supported as presented; or

Design proposals are supported with changes requested to address concerns raised by the ADP. This may involve following up after ADP meetings (see more below) with the File Manager and having revised design proposals circulated electronically to ADP members for their information;

In some cases, the ADP may ask the Architect and/or Landscape Architect to return to another ADP meeting and present the revised design proposals addressing their concerns; or

Design proposals might not be supported by the ADP due to specifically stated concerns.

The File Manager or the ADP Staff Liaison will assist with procedures associated with the above. Draft motions are usually available the day following the meeting from the File Manager, followed by a letter from the Committee Clerk. ADP motions are summarized in staff reports when Development Permits are considered for issuance by Council.

Follow-up After ADP Meetings

In cases where comments and suggestions are to be incorporated into design proposals, the ADP may choose:

Staff Follow-up: ADP concerns are to be addressed as the design develops and submitted to File Manager for follow-up and confirm that the final design plan satisfactorily incorporate the recommendations from the ADP;

Staff follow-up and Circulation to ADP Members: ADP concerns are to be addressed in a set of revised drawings accompanied by a letter.

In both instances, the following is required to be provided to the File Manager:

A letter or memo stating the individual ADP recommendations and describing how each was addressed.

A new set of revised plans with the changes being clearly identified or highlighted (“bubbled”).

Once accepted, a final clean set of plans for the Development Permit are to be submitted to the File Manager in accordance with the Development Permit application process.

Development Permit Area Checklists

Form and character guidelines have been established by Council in the Official Community Plan for each Commercial, Industrial, Multi-family and Town Centre Precinct Development Permit Area in the City. Design proposals are to comply with these established guidelines. To assist Architects in assessing the compliance of their designs, the following are to accompany the development permit application and the ADP submission package for projects located in areas other than in the Town Centre: